OLYMPICS: From flagbearer to mentor: Italian Kostner closes the circle at Milano Cortina

MILAN — Former Italian figure skater Carolina Kostner will bring her Olympic journey full circle at the 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Games, two decades after carrying the Italian flag as a 19-year-old prospect in Turin.

Kostner will not compete on the ice but will experience the thrill of a home Olympics as an assistant to Japanese skater Yuma Kagiyama, advising on artistic and choreographic elements — hallmarks of her own decorated career.

Her presence at Milano Cortina, where she will also serve as a TV commentator, comes amid a wave of high-profile comebacks in sport, although the 38-year-old ruled out a return to competition for herself.

“Being able to represent skating during the Olympics in Italy is a great honor,” she said. “It’s a circle that closes, let’s say. Having followed my dreams for so many years, now being able to pass them on to future generations is a wonderful responsibility.”

Bouncing Back

At Turin 2006, Kostner faced immense pressure but fell short of expectations, struggling in front of home fans. She refused to give up, however, going on to win five European titles, a world championship in 2012, and an Olympic bronze at Sochi in 2014.

Her love for skating, built on discipline and determination, helped her return to elite competition time and again, even after a lengthy ban in 2015 linked to her former boyfriend, Alex Schwazer, the former Olympic champion race walker.

After Turin, Kostner competed in three more Games, finishing fifth at Pyeongchang in 2018 at the age of 31 before injuries brought her competitive career to a close.

Offering Support

If she could give advice to a young skater dreaming of Milano Cortina, Kostner said it would be to stay present, embrace challenges, seek guidance from trusted mentors, and approach the Olympics with both dedication and a sense of gratitude — and a little fun.

“I wasn’t lucky enough to have an idol in Italy to inspire me, someone I could compete with, see live, and get to know personally,” she said. She first watched her favorite skater, two-time U.S. Olympic medalist Michelle Kwan, at a world championship while competing herself.

“I promised my younger self that I would make my experience and my presence available to anyone who wanted it. I want them to know, and they do know, that I am there for them,” she added.

— Reporting by Elvira Pollina and Agnieszka Flak; Editing by Ed Osmond/Reuters